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January 2019 St. John United Church of Christ
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In last month’s Heartbeat the introduction of lectionary Year C, with
Luke as the primary Gospel for the coming year, interrupted the three
installments I had promised on the foundational texts inscribed upon the
doorway to our church. It is perhaps fitting however, that it was so, as
this third and final text is found in a rather unusual chapter in Luke’s
narrative that is mostly excluded from the standard texts read on Sun-
days (even in this Year C which focuses on Luke). In our church histo-
ries the text has always been described as Luke 11:28 “But He said,
‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’”
The text as it is has long been recorded in our church’s history is a trun-
cation of the verse….which in its fullness should cause any observative
reader to sit up and take notice. For here we discover that the statement,
when translated directly from Greek, introduces us to antagonistic Jesus.
In its fullness Luke 11:28 reads “But He said, "On the contrary, blessed
are those who hear the word of God, and observe it." So what is Jesus
contradicting? What is he being contrary to? The preceding line seems
like one unlikely to draw such rebuke but it does, nonetheless, as it
reads: “While Jesus was saying these things, a certain woman in the
crowd spoke up: “Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and who
nursed you.” (Lk 11:27). Wow, Jesus, you just can’t take a compliment
can you? Seriously though, this exchange is just a glimpse of a Jesus
that isn’t easy to pigeonhole. Though the 11th chapter of Luke begins
with Jesus teaching his followers what we have come to regard as “The
Lord’s Prayer”, it includes this exchange, a discourse on demons, Jesus
calling this generation an “evil generation” (vs 29), and rounding out the
chapter by soundly condemning the Pharisees. Something tells me
“What a Friend we Have in Jesus” wasn’t penned following a reading of
Luke 11!
So what is so good and inspiring about this verse that our forebears
deigned to put in their “top three” scripture passages. Well, on its sur-
face, we can embrace the idea that “blessing” or happiness”, as the
Greek word makarios is translated, comes from both hearing AND en-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Discretionary Fund…..…..2
Blessing Bags………………..2
Book Club.…………………...3
Knitters & Crochetters…..3
Adult Study…………………..3
Aging & Disability………….3
Outreach……...…….....4 & 5
Sunday School……………...5
Food Pantry Needs.….…..5
Liturgist/Ushers Sched-
ule……………..…….………....6
Women’s Guild……………..6
Celebrate the Sacra-
ments…………………………..6
Going Green………………….6
Birthdays/Anniv….…..…...7
Calendar……………………...7
Member Updates………….7
Prayer List…………..……….7
Heartbeat News
St. John UCC
Pastor: Rev. Tara Tetzlaff
262-251-0640
Pastor’s Cell: 262-293-
6645 pastor@stjohnuccgermantown.
org
ofice@stjohnuccgermantown.
org
262-293-6645
2
acting the word of God. This would lead me to imagine that the founders
of St. John felt it was not only believing in Jesus or God, but the way they
lived because of that word that mattered.
And though it is likely a stretch to imagine that the founders were focused
on the contrary nature of Jesus, I would argue it is an unintended blessing
to read this verse within its context. To be reminded that empty words of
compliment, nice sentiments, and trite expressions, have their place but
fall short compared to obedience to the word of God. A modern day illus-
tration of this argument has played out again and again on the national
stage in regards to the many mass shootings that have occurred in recent
years. Those who only offer up “thoughts and prayers” are increasingly
being challenged to DO something that backs up those thoughts and pray-
ers. We are a people of the Word, but as it is written in the epistle of
James, we must be doers of the Word, not merely hearers or we are de-
ceiving ourselves. At the conclusion of our 175th anniversary and the
dawn of a new year, St. John UCC remains committed to hearing, pro-
claiming, keeping, and doing the Word and in so doing may it be happy
and blessed for years to come!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tara
Annual Meeting
Our annual meeting will be held on January 27th immediately following
worship.
All committees are asked to submit their reports to of-
[email protected] by January 7th. Documents should be
submitted in a Microsoft Word or Excel format when possible to ease
merging into one document. Copies of the annual meeting packet will be
available in the church lobby beginning January 20th (provided all reports
are submitted in a timely manner).
DISCRETIONARY FUND
The newly formed Discretionary Fund
is financially supported by the Mis-
sion Alive Committee. The purpose
of the fund is designed to help church
members and their families in cases of
unusual or unexpected financial bur-
dens. Pastor Tara has money set aside
for this emergency. If you are experi-
encing a financial hardship, please
talk with Pastor Tara. Pastor does not
report use of this fund to any commit-
tee or church member (this is a private
matter). This Fund has been approved
by the Church Council and the Mis-
sion Alive Committee.
BLESSING BAGS
The Outreach Committee, in conjunc-
tion with Mission Alive, has em-
barked on a project of ministry to the
homeless. We put together “Blessing
Bags for the Homeless”. These pack-
ages, which are the size of a Zip-Lock
bag, will contain various items such as
energy bars, bottled water, cleansing
wipes, mints, etc. The “Blessing
Bags” are available in the lobby to
church members who may keep them
in their cars and have them handy
when meeting individual’s in-need
while driving throughout the area.
SUPPORT VBS
We’re having a Book Fair! Samples
of some of the books available are on
the table in the lobby as well as order
forms with the full offering of books
at prices below retail! Proceeds will
help to fund VBS and other education-
al initiatives here at St. John. Order-
ing is simple: Fill out the order form
on the backside of the flyer and sub-
mit with payment (check made out to
St. John UCC). Books will be deliv-
ered to the church and we will notify
you when they come in. Lots of great
titles for adults as well as kids books
that make excellent gifts!
3
AGING & DISABILITY
Aging and Disability Resource
Center of Washington County
publishes a guide to services
each year. The most recent
copy, The 2017 Resource
Guide, is available in our
church library. The mission
of the Center is to em-
power and assist all sen-
iors, adult with disabili-
ties and their families by
providing services which
help them make in-
formed choices maintain
independence, and re-
main safely in their
homes and community.
How can Information and As-
sistance Services help you?
Information and Assistance
Specialists
-Provide unbiased infor-mation and assistance on is-sues relating to Medicaid, health insurance, paying for medical care and medications and long term care.
-Provide follow-up
-Advocate on the customer’s behalf
-Facilitate financial eligibility determination
-And more
These are real people who can
help you. Check out the Re-
source Guide in our church
library or call the Center di-
rectly at 262-335-4497.
EDUCATIONAL & SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
BOOK CLUB NOTES
Revolutionary Readers book club meets
monthly at Latitudes Coffee House (near
the corner of Pilgrim & County Line) on
the third Wednesday of the month at 1pm.
All are welcome to join us at any time. We
encourage participants to read the book
listed for that session and come ready to discuss. Bring your questions
and your favorite (or least favorite) passages. The books for the coming
months are listed below. All bo0ks available for order thr the church
book fair. Please place all orders by Feb. 1st.
January 16th— Love W ithout Limits by Jacqueline A. Bussie
February 20th—Stranger God: Meeting Jesus in Disguise by Richard
Beck
March 20th—Fat & Faithful; Learning to love our bodies, our neigh-
bors, and ourselves by J. Nicole Morgan
ATTENTION KNITTERS AND CROCHETTERS
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is engaged in knitting and crocheting prayer
shawls and lap blankets for those facing physical challenges, the home-
bound, newly baptized and others. These gifts are meant as tangible
signs of God’s love and the prayers of our congregation for that individu-
al. The group meets at Latitudes Coffee House (corner of Pilgrim &
County Line Rd.) on the 2nd Wed of the month at 1pm. Our next meet-
ing is January 9th. During our meeting we will discuss ideas and op-
portunities for additional projects in the coming year. Bring any ideas
you have (and whatever info you may have about the organizations, etc)
to the meeting.
On Wednesday January 23rd at 6pm we will
begin a 6 week study on the book of Gala-
tians utilizing “Paul and the Galatians” by
Paul E. Stroble. Cost of the book is $13,
made payable to St. John UCC. Please see
Pastor Tara for a copy of the book prior to
first class.
WOMEN’S GUILD MEETING
The women’s Guild meeting has been changed to January 9th. We will
be planning a Women’s Sunday Worship.
4
Fellowship
Please consider signing up
for Fellowship following
church services in our Fel-
lowship Hall (a clip board
with the sign - up sheet is
located near the kitchen).
Join us after church. All
members and friends are
welcome. Any question
contact Sharon Reeder at
262-251-5946.
Dates available for mem-
bers to sign – up for Fellow-
ship:
January 13th, 20th, 27th,
2019
Dates Committees are serv-
ing Fellowship:
Jan. 6th – Spiritual Life
Committee
Feb. 3th – Worship and
Stewardship
March 3rd - Women’s
Guild – Women’s Sunday -
OGHS
Outreach Meetings:
Any members wishing to
join the committee are wel-
come. The next Outreach
Committee meeting is Jan.
20th, at 9am. We meet in
the Fraederich Education
room. Contact Caroline Ro-
maine at 262-385-1327 for
more information.
Volunteers needed:
Volunteers will be needed to
provide rides to church
members who do not have
transportation to - from
church. Please contact the
church office or Pastor Tara
Tetzlaff if interested in vol-
unteering at 262-251-0640.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
A special thank you to those volunteers who helped with setting up the Christ-
mas tree for the Christmas holiday on Monday November 26th, 2018.
On December 2nd, 2018 a group joyful Christmas carolers, members from St.
John U.C.C. went Christmas caroling to sing to church members. A special
thank you to Karen Roskopf for accompanying us on the piano.
Mark your calendars - Up Coming Events:
January 6th
Tree / decoration take down following the church service. A sign – up sheet
will be posted. Please sign – up.
February 2019
Valentine Care Packages -February 10th
The Outreach Committee and Women’s Guild will be sending
out Valentine Care Packages. This would be for any student of
family members or church members who are attending college or graduate
school as well as those members in the Armed Forces. In keeping with the
theme “Little church with the Big Heart”. The Valentine Care packages would
include items such as snacks items ie: popcorn, granola bars, gum, toiletries to
name a few.
We will need items donated and volunteers to help assemble the packages. A list
of items needed is posted on the bulletin board on the stairwell landing. We will
be needing items donated by February 3rd, 2019. We will be assembling the
packages together and sending them out to college students and those in the
Armed Forces on February 10th, 2019.
If you are a student or have a child attending college or if you are in the
Armed forces or have a child in the Armed forces and would like them to re-
ceive a Valentine Care Package, please contact Sharon Reeder at 262-251-
5946 , or one of the Outreach Committee members. We will need the students
name or name of those in the Armed forces and current address we will be send-
ing the package.
13th Annual Dart Ball Night – Saturday February 28th
Please join us for the 13th Annual Dart Ball Night on Saturday February 28th,
2019. This is an event for family and friends. Supper will be served along with
desserts, snacks and refreshments.
5
FOOD PANTRY NEEDS
UPDATE
Baked beans
Boxed or bagged potato
mix
Canned peas
Canned pasta
Hamburger Helper mix-
es
Chunky soup
Mandarin oranges,
pineapple, mixed fruit
Flavored rice mixes
(Rice-a-roni type)
Salad dressing/BBQ
sauce
Cookies/snacks
Refried beans
Low sodium vegetables
Dry soup mixes
Sugar and flour
Cake frosting
Pickles and olives
Dish Soap
Stuffing
Chicken Noodle Soup
Lotion, Shampoo, Deo-
dorant
Anything you can donate
will be appreciated.
Recipe Corner St. John U.C.C. has some wonderful cooks and
bakers and during Fellowship, Potluck Dinners
or Vacation Bible School we have had requests
for some of the recipes. Each month in the
Heart Beat Newsletter the Outreach Committee
will enter a new recipe. If you have one you
would like to submit, please drop it off in the
church office, clearly labeled and we will put it
in the Recipe Corner.
Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipe donated by Pastor Tara Tetzlaff
--A great make-ahead breakfast. Makes 6-8 generous servings Ingredients 2 cups milk 1 cup canned pumpkin 2 eggs 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups original steel cut oats (NOT rolled or instant) 1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins, or cranberries (I soak my cherries in hot wa-ter for a few minutes to "plump"--drain well) 1/4 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp ginger 1/4 tsp cloves 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder maple syrup & chopped pecans for topping Directions --Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8x8 pan --Whisk all ingredients (except syrup & pecans) together --Bake Approx. 45 min or until set --Allow to cool slightly before slicing, (I cut mine into 6-8 squares) --Serve warm. (can be frozen-just reheat before serving) --Top each piece with 1 T. maple syrup & 1 T. chopped pecans just before serving
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers will be needed to provide rides to church members who do not
have transportation to - from church. Please contact the church office or
Pastor Tara Tetzlaff if interested in volunteering at 262-251-0640.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
All children 3+ are invited to participate in our Sunday School. Students are
invited to sit in church with teachers or family at the beginning of worship
at 10:30am on Sundays. Kids are dismissed to class after the Children’s
Message.
6
General Synod 32 Volunteering
June 21-25, 2019
YOUR HELP IS KEY to the success of the Wisconsin Conference host-ing the 32nd General Synod of the UCC at the Wisconsin Center in Milwau-kee. Over 3000 people are expected to attend and we need 300 to 400 volun-teers to assist the Local Arrangements Committee over this 5-day event. Here is an opportunity to experience the wider United Church of Christ and to learn about our denomination and the many ministries we are engaged in on behalf of Jesus Christ. Here are ways you can volunteer:
Extravagant Hospitality and Welcome: Welcome and direct attendees at Mitchell Airport, the Intermodal Station downtown and in designated hotels.
Registration Table: Assist with the check-in process at the Wisconsin Center.
Guides and Greeters: Welcome and provide directions to attendees in the Wisconsin Center.
Accessibility: Assist with motorized scooters, or other accommodations. Childcare and Children’s Ministry: Provide supervision and program
leadership for age-appropriate child care and children’s activities for infants through age 12. All volunteers in this area will have a back-ground check.
Word Processing for Education and Committees; use your word pro-cessing skills to maintain edits in pronouncements of assigned com-mittees.
Floor Stewards: Assist delegates during plenary sessions as need-ed.
Exhibit Hall Support: Assist in the area designated for UCC and relat-ed agencies and vendors.
Worship Ushers: Usher during worship services of Synod. Volunteer Support: Support volunteers before and during General
Synod. App-bassadors: Help delegates and visitors to access the General
Synod app. Outdoor Festival: Direct and assist attendees at the Sunday Festival at
Frank Zeidler Square Park. All members of the Wisconsin Conference are invited!
Flexible On-Call: On-call volunteers will cover needs which arise unex-pectedly.
Volunteer registration will be available online through the Wisconsin
Conference website page for General Synod.
All registrations for Volunteering will be done electronically including indicat-ing the positions available and the dates/times volunteers are needed. Fill out the form and schedule yourself for a specific opportunity/ies and spe-cific times. To qualify for a reduced Synod registration fee, volunteers must sign up for 6 hours. Once confirmed as an Official Volunteer you will receive a code and can register on the UCC General Synod website, ucc.org/synod. After registering as a volunteer, Volunteers must register with the General Synod site and pay a reduced fee of $60. As a registered volunteer you are able to attend all 5 days of the General Synod as a visitor volunteer at this reduced rate. DO NOT Register on the Synod website until you have been
confirmed and received the volunteer code.
JANUARY
LITURGISTS 6 John Schaetzel 13 Joan Schaetzel 20 Mary Johnson 27 Caroline Romaine USHERS 6 Joan & Ken Schaetzel
13 Bob & Jeannie Leh-mann
20 Carol & Greg Schwartz
27 Marilyn Gabrielson &
Cheryl Matic
CELEBRATE THE SAC-
RAMENTS
As Protestants there are on-
ly two sacraments we rec-
ognize in the church: Bap-
tism and Communion. On
Sunday January 13th we
will celebrate the baptism
of Christ and renew our
own baptism vows as well
as share in Holy Commun-
ion. Come learn, celebrate,
and receive these beautiful
symbols of God’s grace.
(Please note that there will
NOT be Communion on
January 6th).
7
JANUARY CALENDAR 6th—Tree take down, following service 7th—Annual Reports due in office 9th—1pm Prayer Shawl 7pm Women’s Guild 10th—6:30pm Council Mtg. 13th—Communion Sunday 15th—10am Spiritual Life Mtg.
16th—1pm Book Club at Latitudes 20th—9am Outreach Mtg. 23rd—6:30pm Adult Study 27th—Annual Meeting to fol-low worship 30th—6:30pm Adult Study
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
5 Dorothy Peterson
6 Bryce Thomas 18 Marge Wundrock
8 Eric Hillstrom Adilyn Skrober
11 Ned Romaine 24 Greg Schwartz
13 Jeff Wendt 25 Polly Weber
14 Caroline Romaine 31 Gayle Johnson
16 Richard Bersch
JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES
7 Greg & Chris Pickett
PRAYER LIST
Prayers for Mike Szymik
Prayers for our church that it may grow
Prayers for Nicole (Lois Cozzuli's daugh-ter
Prayers for Ron Mar-zinski, brother-in-law of Caroline Romaine
Prayers for Tim Ros-kopf, son of Karen Roskopf
Prayers for Stacy C., daughter of Janet Robinson
Prayers for Jason, grandson of Karen Roskopf
Prayers for Henry Reiss, friend of Donna Tess
Prayers for Liz West-hafer
Prayers for Henry Di-eringer, friend of the Huth family
Prayers for Kirk (Lois Cozzuli’s son
Prayers for Lois Coz-zuli
Prayers for Pamela Hanson Ruben
Prayers for Dorothy Peterson
Prayers for Andy Boneski
Prayers for Serena, sister of Mary John-son
CELEBRATIONS: BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
MEMBER UPDATES:
New Address & Phone Number:
Bob & Jeannie Lehmann
1100 N. Cass St. #401
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone Number—414-763-7380
New Phone Number:
Ann LaMarre—414-269-9980
8
ST. JOHN UCC
N104W14181 Donges Bay Rd.
Germantown, WI 53022
Our Mission is to Celebrate, Reach
Out, Enrich, and Welcome in the
name of Jesus Christ.
WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship Service at St. John UCC—10:30am Sunday School: 10:30-11:30am at St. John UCC
PLEASE
PLACE
STAMP
HERE