Mission Statement of this Church

Ebenezer United Church of Christ is a vibrant faith community that strives to…

Serve the spiritual needs of our neighbors.

Transform by walking in Jesus’ footsteps.

Openly reach out for opportunities to share God’s word at home

and abroad.

Nurture our relationships with God and each other.

Empower and embrace faith, hope, and love in God!

Pastor’s CornerPastor’s CornerPastor’s Corner

The weather has turned cold. As I write this the first snow of the winter is falling. Roofs are covered, the grass is hiding, and the snow shouts at us to stay inside. Just around the corner is the real winter waiting to chill us and keep us indoors for the entire season. Something else is just around the corner but this doesn’t threaten to keep us indoors. This event calls us to leave the isolation of our homes and gather as a community. Advent is around the corner.

The season of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year. Advent marks a time of preparation as we await the coming of the Christ child.

Outside the temperatures drop and the snow falls. Inside the church we hear the stories of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Zechariah. Inside the church we sing hymns of preparation and celebration.

Cont. on pg. 2

December 2015

Ebenezer

United Church of Christ 44 W. Washington Street

Chilton WI 53014 (920) 849-4331

Website: www.ebenezerchilton

.org

Rev. Michael Safford-Kennedy

Email: pastormike79@ hotmail.com

Office Email:

ebenezeroffice@ yahoo.com

“Ebenezer UCC Chilton”

The EagleThe EagleThe Eagle

Page 2

Cont. from pg. 1

Outside the church we are told to buy, buy and buy some more even beyond our ability to pay. Inside the church we are told of the coming of one who will bring the presence of God in a way we have never imagined, who will love us and love us beyond our ability to imagine.

Outside the church we push and shove and frantically try to get to the best sales. Inside the church we wait while messengers prepare the way of the Lord.

Outside the church we look for the best products at the lowest cost. Inside the church we celebrate the coming of the ultimate gift of love at no cost to us.

Outside the church we redeem coupons for trinkets. Inside the church our loving Creator redeems our lives.

As the temperatures drop, the snow flies, and the church calendar changes to a new year, where would you rather be?

Pastor Mike

Christmas Services Dec 6- 3:00 PM Hand bell Concert

“A Miracle Unraveled”

Dec 20- 9:30 AM Children’s Program

Dec 24- 7:00 PM

Dec 24- 11:00 PM

Dec 25- 9:00 AM

FIND THE SANTA HATS!!! Count ALL the Santa hats in this issue of the Eagle and email the office at ebenezeroffice@yahoo.com or call 849-4331 and give the right answer to have your name featured in next

month’s Eagle PLUS win a sweet treat!

Page 3

Council Minutes: November 22, 2015

Meeting called to order at 10:50. Members present: Karen Cmejla, Andrea DuWell, Steve

Stenz, Stephanie Adamietz, and Pastor Mike. Members not present: Kelly Kress, Nicole

Moore, and Tiffany Porche. Stephanie made a motion to approve the October minutes as

well as the agenda for today. Steve seconded. Motion carried.

Finances Report:

Our October revenue is $12,835.

Our October expenditures are $7,878.

Our general fund balance as of October 31, 2015 is $12,296.

Our current balance is $261,260.

Stephanie made a motion to accept the financial reports and approval to pay the bills.

Andrea seconded. Motion carried.

Minister’s Report

Pastor Mike shared with us a written synopsis of what he has done from October through

mid-November, including funerals, visitations, counseling, and Sunday school/ confirmation.

Committee Reports

Christian Ed/Music-

Sunday school will be having their Christmas program, A Christmas to Believe In, on

December 20th. All are welcome to watch the little miracles of the church put

on an amazing performance!

Christmas Bell Concert, Miracle Unraveled, will be on December 6th at 3:00.

Evangelism- Evangelism will be meeting Sunday, December 6th following the church

service.

Mission- The mission committee is always accepting donations for the annual rummage

sale. There is a sign up for those who would like to donate their gifts of making

cookies, candies, and fudge. Please sign up in the Narthex. It is greatly appreciated.

The cookie walk will be Saturday, December 5th from 9-2. The house walk will also be

the same day from 10-4.

Property- The AED will be placed in the Narthex. Cont. on pg. 4

Page 4

Cont. from pg.3

Search committee continues to look at profiles.

Old Business

Nursery is up and running. Please take a look at the “new”, rearranged

lounge. Now, we are just looking for those who may be willing to

donate about 3-5 diapers of each size and it will be complete.

West Fellowship Hall’s entrance doors- The doors will be put on hold until spring due to

funding and winter approaching.

Carpet Cleaning- L&B Carpet Cleaning from Chilton gave an estimate and breakdown of

all the carpets in the church. We will go ahead with them cleaning the majority of our

carpets in the spring. The cost of $1,000 will be added onto our “Wish List”.

New Business

The decorating of the church for Christmas will be happening on Saturday, November

28th starting at 9:30. All are welcome to come and help!

We are looking to see if anyone is interested in becoming AED/CPR certified. The cost

would be $25 per person and a teacher from FVTC would be able to come and certify

those who are interested (date and time TBD). Our other option would be to watch a

video on how our AED works and how to perform CPR if needed with a practice AED

and CPR mannequin. If you are interested in either option, please sign up in the

Narthex on the table.

Council will be meeting Saturday, December 12th at 8am to discuss the 2016 budget.

The congregation Annual Meeting will be January 31st following the service.

If anyone is interested in serving on the church council for the next three years, please

talk to a council member or Pastor Mike.

Next council meeting will be Sunday, December 20th, following the church service. Steve

made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Stephanie seconded. Motion carried. Meeting was

adjourned at 11:55.

Council Secretary,

Andrea DuWell

Page 5

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC CORNER…

Where can you find an amazing, cohesive, productive group with an age range of 10 – 70+, experience ranging from a few months to 24 years? That is what Ebenezer Brass hand bell choir is made of! It is truly amazing how 11-13 individuals can work together to produce some very awesome music. They truly have been diligent and dedicated in preparing for the Dec. 6 concert. The concert begins at 3 PM followed by food, fun and fellowship. The theme is “A Miracle Unraveled”. Amidst the traditional Christmas songs there will be other surprises to support the theme. Besides the ringers there are many volunteers and a vocal trio to help put the program together. We are grateful for everyone’s efforts. Please come to enjoy the seasonal sounds and bring your friends and family on Dec. 6. Several ringers combined with ringers from St. John’s UCC in New Holstein to ring for the ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve worship. It is always uplifting to join with ringers from other churches! A bell ensemble will be ringing for the memorial service at the Homestead on Dec. 10. It is wonderful that Ebenezer’s bells do not have chance to ‘gather dust’ from not being used!!! The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will have a variety of bell and vocal participation. If you have any musical offerings for the Christmas season please let Elaine know.

2016 Annual Meeting

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, January 31 for the Annual Meeting of the

congregation. Watch your upcoming Sunday bulletins for more information.

Page 6

December USHERS

6: Church Council

13: Sunday School

20: Vern & Edith Knoespel,

Kristi & Ryan Schnell

27: Don & Diane Sattler, Kim

Pringel, Don Pingel

Office Hours

MONDAYS

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAYS

11 AM to 4 PM

MISSION EDUCATION NEWS

It is that time of year again! Dust off your favorite cookie and candy recipes! Our 5th annual Cookie Walk will be held on December 5th in

conjunction with the Christmas House Walk. The sale will run from 9 to 2 with all proceeds going to OCWM. Sign up sheets for cookies and candy

will be in the narthex and we will be calling too. Cookie drop off is Thursday December 3rd from 4-7pm or any time that week during office

hours. Happy baking!

Something new is in the works! The Mission Committee is excited about a project that we will be doing in December in conjunction with FOOD FOR THE POOR. A gift of baby chicks provides a poor family not only

with a sustainable source of protein from eggs, but also with supplemental income from selling extra eggs. Choose a chick

ornament off the tree and you will be providing a needy family with food and income. Suggested donation amounts are on the back of each

ornament. Money can be put in the basket by the tree. If all the chicks are taken, we will have raised enough for 300 chicks for needy families!!!

We will be collecting for the East Shore Humane Society again this year. Items needed are: canned kitten food (Purina or Fancy Feast), dry kitten food (Purina Kitten Chow), dry cat food (Purina Cat Chow Healthy Weight), canned dog food, dog treats (chewy and biscuits), cat toys, dish detergent, paper toweling, toilet

paper and printer paper. Please help our furry friends! Any questions about these projects,

call Jeanne (920-203-4137) or Nan (920-418-0149)

Page 7

December Birthdays If your birthday was missed, please let the office know so we can get it right next time.

Mark Rusch 01

Beverly Baltz 01

Glen Pingel 02

Tyler Giebel 03

Chelsa Scheider 03

Kurt Wollersheim 03

Rita Pingel 05

Kristi Schnell 06

Charles Parsons 09

Chris Marx 14

Kelly Wollersheim 15

Jeanne Keuler 15

Sandra Pagel 19 Janet Andrews 21

Bob Marx 21

Norman Pautz 21

Sandy Marx 23

Tricia Roehrig 25

Sheila Ott 26

Dean Papendieck 31

Newslett r Articles Please get your articles to Heather by the 3rd Tuesday of the month so she can get the Eagle published before the start of the next month. That means the deadline for the January 2016 Eagle is Tuesday, December 15. Weekly bulletin announcements

are due each Tuesday morning.

REMINDER: Copies of the daily devotional guide, “The Upper

Room”, are in the church narthex book rack. It is available in both regular and enlarged print.

If you are interested in donating flowers to be displayed in the front of church, please write your name next to the date you would like to

donate on the sign-up sheet located on the all in the Narthex hallway. Also, please notify Heather as to what the special occasion is

for so she may include this in the bulletin.

Directories have arrived! Please pick yours up in the church office at your earliest convenience! And please cross you name off the list that

is with them.

Page 8

Katy DaNisha Lorraine Arlene Joe

Tod Jane Louise Sheri John Mark Dollie Pat David Marlene Larry Joan Duane Dale

Due to privacy laws, we can no longer list last names of members of our congregation on the prayer list above because our Eagle goes on the church website which can be viewed by anyone on the internet. Thank you.

Thank You I thank everyone who has prayed for my mom and my family these past months. Thank you to all who expressed their concern for us and shared a hug or a word of love before and after church. Your prayers and presence helped me through the valley of the shadow of death. As of November 9, there is unmeasured joy

and glory for my mom. For my brother and I there are special memories and the comfort of knowing she is no longer sick and confined to a bed. She is with her

Lord, her family and countless friends.

Sue and I will be gone for a couple of days for my mom’s funeral on Saturday, December 19. The service is at 10:30 am at Martin Reformed Church 1073 W Allegan St, Martin, MI 49070. We will return home that same day so we can

attend our church Christmas programs on the 20th.

Thank you to the entire church for your cards and the gift of a candle and engraved stone.

Once again, thank you for your love.

Pastor Mike

THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THIS CHURCH

Loving, living, and serving faithfully – uniting God and our neighbors.

Scrip

Please keep in mind to buy scrip if you plan on making a shopping trip, gassing the car, or having dinner out!! It helps our church meet our goals!

United Community

We have partnered with United Community to help raise funds needed to help our church. We are using the funds towards our OCWM contributions and the General Fund. Many of you have been using your United Community Card at the partnered businesses and we thank you for doing that. If you do not have a United Community card and would like more information on how to obtain one, please contact the church office at 849-4331.

December Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Church office open

11-4

2 Church office open 11-4

Handbell Prac-tice 6:30PM Extra Help 6PM

3 Church office open

11-4

4

Office Closed

5 House

Walk &

Cookie

Walk 9-2

6

Sunday School 8:30

AM 9:30 am Worship Evangelism Cmt mtg after service A Miracle Unraveled Concert 3 PM

7

Church office open

11-4

Confirmation Class 5:30 PM

8

Church office open

11-4

9 Church office open 11-4 Handbell Prac-tice 6:30PM Extra Help 6PM

10 Church office open 11-4

8:30 am Men’s Brkfst @ 7 Angels

11

Office Closed

12

Budget Mtg

8AM

13

Children’s Sunday

Sunday School 8:30

AM 9:30 am Worship

Spanish Ministry 3 PM

14

Church office open

11-4

Confirmation Class 5:30 PM

15

Church office open 11-4

Eagle Articles Due

16 Church office open 11-4 Handbell Prac-tice 6:30PM Extra Help 6PM Youth Group 6-7:30pm

17

Church office open 11-4

Women’s Guild 1pm @ 7 Angels

18

Office Closed

19

20

Children’s Program

Sunday School 8:30

AM 9:30 am Worship Council Mtg after service Spanish Ministry 3 PM

21

Church office open

11-4

Confirmation Class Christmas Party 5:30

22 Church office open 11-4

23 Church office open 11-4

24

Office Closed

Christmas Eve

Service 7 PM

Service 11 PM

25

Office Closed

Christmas Day

Service 9 AM

26

27

Sunday School 8:30

AM 9:30 am Worship Spanish Ministry 3 PM Eagle Published

28

Church office open

11-4

NO Confirma-tion Class

29 30 31

Office Closed

New Year’s Eve