THE LAMPLIGHTER
Presbyterian Church of West Salem
Pastor Larry Olson &
625 W. Franklin St., P. O. Box 861
Pastor Stephanie Steiner
West Salem, WI 54669
Telephone (608) 786-0910 Fax (608) 786-4910
Email: [email protected]
January 2015
www.presbyterianchurchwestsalem.com
Inside this issue:
2014 ANNUAL REPORT
Financial Info
2
Pastor’s Note
3
PW Information
4
Winter Bible Study
4
Missionary Letter
5-6
We are again preparing to send the Annual Report via email to as many of you
as possible. However, if you have not given us your email for the Lamplighter and we
can send to you the Annual Report by email, please contact the church to provide that
email. If you do not have email access, you can pick-up a copy we will have available
the week before the Annual Meeting, scheduled for Sunday, January 25th. If you have
any questions, please call the church office at 786-0910 or email us at
[email protected].
ANNUAL MEETING
Each year we gather together to review where we have been as a congregation and chart our course for the
new year and the future. You are encouraged to attend our annual meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2015
immediately following the 10:15 AM worship service. We hope to see you there!
TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Immediately following the service Sunday, January 4th, we need help taking down and stowing
away the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary. Many hands make quick work so please consider
lending your hands. Thanks!
Pancake Breakfast: Sunday, February 1, 2015!
Please support the Christian Education Committee's Mission Trip Fundraiser on February 1st!
The goal of this and other fund raisers by Christian Education is to raise over $1500.00 to support a July 9-12, 2015 mission trip to Duluth, Minnesota. The trip is organized by Youthworks, a non-profit organization established in 1994, to "provide life changing Christ-centered
mission trips." The breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, and milk. Serving
will begin at 9:00 am. Suggested donation: $3.00 for adults, $1.50 for children, children 3 and under free.
BELL RINGING A SUCCESS!
Thank you to the following persons who rang bells at Hansen's IGA Nov. 29 and 30: Lynda
Bahr and granddaughter, Mya; Mike and Jackie Siekert, Becky Byrnes and Garrett and Alyssa;
Avis Evenson and granddaughters Lindsey and Ashley; Tiffany LaJeunesse and Josie; Ann and
Mariah Terry; Gary and Karen Willinger and Casey and Ryan Pfaff and Dax. We took in
$438.29, a good beginning to the Advent season for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign.
~ Helen Harold
Page 2
November 2014 Financial Summary
PER CAPITA 2015
Operating Budget
Balance November 1st
$21,947.41
Receipts
18,103.89
Expenses
(19,712.66)
Balance November 30, 2014
$20,338.64
_______________________________________________________
Per Capita is a financial responsibility for every adult member of a
Presbyterian congregation. For
2015 the per capita is $28.52.
When submitting, please write in
“per capita” on the memo part of
your check or on the outside of
your envelope.
Thank you!
Highlights from Session:
•
•
•
•
•
2015 Budget approved.
Approved Presbyterian Women schedule for 2015.
Approve Youth tubing trip to Fort McCoy 1/25/15 and Youth Lock-in 2/19/15.
Approved all church ski day and sledding day with dates to be determined.
Approved Fat Sunday Breakfast Donation dates of 2/8/15 and 2/15/15. (This is separate from Fat Sunday
Mission Trip Pancake Breakfast.)
Hats off to:
•
Sandy Schmidt, Carol Hass, Bob & Sharon Shaw and Helen Harold for the mailing of the
December issue of The Lamplighter
•
our December nursery volunteers: Bohnsack family, Burdick family, Noah Garcia family
and Hass family
•
Our December acolytes: Chase & Willis Jones, Sam & Brynn Kleiner, David & William Silbaugh,
Julia Byrnes and Brendon Haverly-Ghelfi
•
our December liturgists: Helen Harold, Howard Garves, Todd Kleiner and Nick Miller
•
Becky Auna for three new banners for the sanctuary
Elders
Class of 2015
Class of 2016
Class of 2017
Mike Siekert
Charles Engel
Lois Sanwick
Nick Miller
Shawn McAlister
Carolyn Lindeman
Kelly Crusan
Greg Meeuwsen
Carol Griffin
Tracey Rogers
Valerie Olson
Becca Bohnsack
Deacons
Class of 2015 Kris Seeger, Tiffani LaJeunesse, Howard Garves, Joyce Garves & Sharon Cullmann
Class of 2016 Jackie Siekert, Nancy Olson, Sue Winterfield, Charlie and Susan Evans
Page 3
It’s Always Something
Have you ever noticed that people from the warmer southern climates like to rub it in when they are warm
and we are cold up here in Wisconsin? Have you noticed that “they” like to tell you their place of living is
better than our place of living?
Recently we heard from some friends who live in Arizona, of course they had to tell me how nice it is to
sit outside, with the temperature in the mid 60’s and watch the sun go down. I don’t know about you but you
wouldn’t catch me sitting outside for anything during the cold winter months, let alone to watch the sun go
down. If I want to watch the sunset, I’m fine with looking out my window and watching the sun go down,
thank you very much.
Wait a minute, let’s not short change ourselves, for I heard on the news recently that Phoenix had put out
an air quality alert. We might just ask ourselves from Wisconsin what is an air quality alert? Is that what
happens after the farmer spreads manure in the heat of the summer? Isn’t it nice to know we don’t have to
worry about our air quality! We can walk outside, yes make sure you put on your winter coat, and breathe in
wonderfully fresh air. No air quality alert for us. What we might be lacking right now in warmth we certain
have Arizona beat in air quality.
I like to say it is always something. It really doesn’t matter where we live, what we do for a living, who
are our friends and who are not our friends, the truth is there is always something out there better than what
we might have at any particular moment and there is always something worse out there than what we currently have.
One of our friends sent us a Christmas card in which she spelled out her struggles with cancer in 2014, but
then she made this comment: “when I’m sitting in the therapy room having chemo placed in my body, even
with no hair on my head, I see I am much better off than most of those receiving their chemo treatments.”
There will always be someone or something poking at us to consider a move, be it physical, mental, spiritual
or relational. There will always be someone telling us we need more.
My thoughts are God has placed us right here, with certain gifts and skills, certain assets and liabilities.
True we can look at what seems to be greener grass on the other side of the fence but this is what we have, on
this side of the fence. God doesn’t fail, we have enough, in fact we have more than enough if we are willing
to use what we have for the glory of God.
As we begin 2015 maybe it is time for us to stop looking at what someone else has and focus on what God
has offered to us. Maybe it is time to stretch out in faith seeking to use ALL our gifts talents and abilities to
the glory of God. Maybe it is time to realize there will always be something seeking to distract us for glorifying God. Let us vow in 2015 to keep our eyes on Jesus for there is always something ready to distract us.
Have a blessed 2015.
Pastor Larry
Page 4
December PW Meeting
Twenty-one women enjoyed a delicious finger food buffet at the annual Christmas
PW gathering on December 4th at 7:00 PM. Jackie Siekert was hostess for the evening. A
table grace was sung, the PW Purpose was read and the Thank Offering was collected.
A short business meeting was conducted. It was decided to donate money to the
“Chicken” project, the West Salem Food Pantry, and our church budget.
Socks are still being collected for the Salvation Army, Bible study will be March 4, 11, and 18th, and a
lunch will be served at our church for the State Meeting in September.
The next PW meeting will be the annual picnic on June 4th, the place yet to be decided.
Vickie Holt presented and installed the officers for 2015. The officers are: Helen Harold, Moderator; Diana Engel, Vice Moderator; Nelda Manter, Treasurer; Joyce Garves, Secretary; Sharon Shaw,
Nominating
A lovely program entitled “The Light of Love Has Come” was presented in the Sanctuary by Jane
Foner, Becky Auna, Marie Merrell and Amy Litwin accompanied by Caroline Sells on the piano.
THANK YOU FROM PRESBYTERIAN WORLD MISSION
This "thank you" was received form Bruce Wheartly, Church Support Associate (Bruce is the contact person when our money is sent to our missionaries in Malawi, Jim and Jodi McGill):
Thank you so much for your support of our mission co-workers. We appreciate your partnership in empowering them to do so many different kinds of
ministry within the one great mission of God to the world.
SALVATION ARMY NEEDS SOCKS!
A recent email from Julie Nelson of the Salvation Army in La Crosse said, "Yes, please!" when I asked her
if they needed socks this year. Remember, last year we collected socks, all kinds, all sizes, during the
months of January and February. We will do the same this year. A box in the back of the church is provided. Thank you very much for your help with this mission.
Winter Bible Study "Culture Shock" by Chip Ingram
Where do you stand on issues like: Truth, Sex, Homosexuality, Abortion, the Environment,
and the Church and Politics? More importantly, what does God say? If there ever was a time
for Christians to understand and communicate God's truth about controversial and polarizing
issues, it is now. More than ever before, believers must develop convictions based on research, reason and Biblical truth. But it doesn't stop there. It's equally important that you're
able (and willing) to communicate these convictions with love and respect that reflects God's own heart.
This series will help you learn how to respond with love, even in the face of controversy. In the process,
you'll discover the power of bringing light - not heat - to the core issues at the heart of society today.
Please join us for the first half of this study on January 21, 28 and February 4th at 6:30pm in the sanctuary.
We will continue with the second half of this study in spring. The book "Culture Shock" will be available
for check out from the church library.
A letter from Jodi McGill serving in Malawi
October 2014 - Teaching sanitation is ministry
“Nine weeks before Christmas!” shouted our 10-year-old sons, John and Joseph, this week at breakfast. When
we asked why that was so exciting, the answer was of course, they get gifts! Living here does shelter us from
some of the advertising used in the U.S.A. to promulgate the commercialism of the Christmas season. However, the new Western-style grocery store that opened in town this year began putting up Christmas decorations in mid-October, and we have obviously enculturated our kids with a bit of the material aspects of the
holiday.
The older kids interjected that presents were not the real reason for Christmas and chided their younger siblings for being so materialistic—but honestly we all look forward to making, giving, and getting presents.
Gift-giving is an important part of Christianity and not just at Christmas; James 1:7 says, “Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or
shadow due to change.” Beginning with creation God has shown us how and why to give, and the Magi who
gave gifts to Jesus were emulating His example.
Not long ago a congregation in the U.S.A. gave money to provide water and benches for a primary school. As
can been seen in the photos, the school desperately needed both and it is fulfilling and gratifying for all involved to be able to meet those needs.
The enrollment statistics of a primary school recently assisted by a PCUSA congregation with water
and desks. Very telling in both the overwhelming task of being one teacher with so many pupils as
well the number of children not completing their primary school education.
One of the upper level primary grade classrooms that will be getting
desks. The school decided the desks are to be used for the higher grade
classrooms due to both the lower density of student population and the greater amount of written
work required by the upper grade level students.
The broken borehole pump at the school
The teachers, students, and even community members are grateful and thrilled for the clean water. And we
know the students will be relieved to sit on benches instead of the cement floor. Through their gift this congregation symbolically demonstrated a modern-day version of the gifts of the Magi. "Truly I tell you, whatever
you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Mathew 25:40).
The first water flowing from the repaired pump
Jim continues his work with the Development Department of the Synod of Livingstonia to develop the
"SMART (Sustainable Marketable Affordable Reliable Technologies) Centre" for training of low-cost water and sanitation options. The SMART Centre is helping to create an environment where small water and
sanitation companies can be created, but longer-term support is needed to assist these companies to be able
to thrive. The WaSH (Water Sanitation Hygiene) Shop has been created to provide support and is now
housed within the Synod of Livingstonia premises. We are looking forward to the arrival of another partner
in water and sanitation work from the GZB (Gereformeerde Zendings Bond—Dutch: Reformed Mission
League) of the Netherlands to assist the Synod to help with the support of these new companies, as well as
to form a curriculum for teaching pastors to promote safe water and sanitation within their congregations.
One of our supporting churches recently asked us what makes our vocation a ministry. It is a relevant and
challenging question for all involved in church work especially if it is not specifically evangelistic in nature. There are nongovernmental organizations that provide clean water, sanitation, health care, and work
to develop communities. We pray daily during our family’s morning devotion time that what we do is
long-lasting and touches lives more deeply than just the provision of technical support, aid and succor. We
have experienced that our work becomes a ministry when it is done through the Body of Christ, together in
partnership with our Malawian church counterparts and with your support both as individuals and through
the church. Additionally God calls all of us to share the gift of love and pray for one another, and that is
done by all who love God regardless of where we live or what we do for a living.
As I mentioned in our previous newsletter, we are homeschooling three of our six children. This term one
of the areas of study in the English course is various types of poetry. So, since Christmas was a topic for
discussion, we thought we would write a Christmas poem. Here is one of our first attempts at writing one of
the forms of short poems called a cinquain:
Christmas
Baby, Savior
Trusting, giving, loving,
Greatest gift, angels’ joyful noise
Hope
We thank you for your gifts of prayer and financial support, and for the encouraging notes and emails. You
can read more about our work and see other newsletters as well as give toward our support at
www.pcusa.org/james-and-jodi-mcgill.
Dear God, in this often painful, difficult, sad, and dangerous world help us to remember, sense, see, and
share your vast and unending love.
Shalom,
]Éw|
Page 7
JANUARY VOLUNTEERS
FELLOWSHIP (Serve/Clean-up): Membership & Evangelism Committee
HEAD USHER: Charlie Evans
LITURGIST & GREETER
NURSERY CARE
ACOLYTES
4—Tracey Rogers
4—Brendan Holt
4—Genevieve Sprain & Dominic Daoust
11—Holly Kleiner
11—Trevor Jones
11—Anna Bohnsack & Aly Cvikota
18—Alanna Wuensch
18—Grady LaJeunesse
18—Connor Brown & Luke Noel
25—Nancy Olson
25—Dylan Noel
25—Chase & Willis Jones
GREETERS (Fellowship Hall Doors)
January Confirmation Schedule
4—Merlin & Stacey Jones family
7th—Bangor—Meal at 6:15 PM then class until 7:30 PM
11—Todd Kleiner
14th—West Salem—Meal at 6:15 PM then class until 7:30 PM
18—Crystal Wuensch
21st—West Salem—Meal at 6:15 PM then class until 7:30 PM
25—Bob & Marilyn Bahr
28th—West Salem—Community Dinner at 5:00 PM then
class until 7:30 PM
Fat Sunday
Breakfast Donation
January
Birthdays
In preparation for Lent and
support of our Food Shelf—we
are asking for families to bring a
box of cereal on either February
8th or 15th. Watch the
cereal stack grow and
know we are assisting
others in our community. 1—Fred Dodd, Kimberly LaBarre, Larry Olson
18—Jackson Bonsall, Rebecca Byrnes
2—Martha Burdick, Joseph Hauser
19—Katelyn Carlson, Kaitlin Seeger, Matthew Schwier,
3—Howard Garves, Sandra Schmidt, Elayne Erdman
Maureen Longcor, Michael Siekert
4—Rebecca Auna, Patricia Ruetten, Lucille Raymer
20—Brian Lusk, Dorothy Schmaltz, Patrick Zalewski
5—Leeann Krall, Kenneth Hauser, Shanna Roe
21—Brian Baker, Elgin Brown, Brooklyn Haverly-Ghelfi
7—Cindy Ashland, Mark Gullickson
22—Michelle Lusk, Luke Noel
8—Dan Trautsch, Kendra Trautsch, Dave Bohnsack
23—Doris Riniker
9—Terry Miller, Aiden Knoll, Ernest Tourville, Debbie Tourville
25—Dixie Fladhammer
10—Glenda Koeneke, Rita Loging, Garrett Byrnes
26—Ethan Sells
12—Taylor Calvetti
27—Kevin Arndt, Nancy Olson
13—Gene Loging
28—Doris Carlson, Edward Lusk, Haylee Meyer, Alexis Shaw
14—Greg Ashland, Sharon Holven, Alex Galbraith, Emily Pickar
29—Delores Torgerson
16—Adam Griffin, Rose Wolbrink, Kent Buehler
30—Diane Rogala, Riley Holte, William Silbaugh
31—James Beebe, Diana Meeuwsen
Presbyterian Church of West Salem
Non-Profit Org.
625 West Franklin Street
PO Box 861
U.S. Postage
PAID
West Salem Wisconsin 54669
Permit No. 22
West Salem, WI 54669
Change Service Requested
Looking Ahead:
•
Installation/Ordination of Elders/Deacons—January 4th
•
Annual Meeting—January 25th
•
Youth Tubing Trip to Fort McCoy—January 25th
(Look for more information in upcoming bulletins.)
The Lamplighter is published monthly by the Presbyterian Church of West Salem to inform church
members and friends about the events, programs, and mission of the congregation. Information for
The Lamplighter is to be submitted to the church office by the 15th day of each month.
Please inform the church office of any change in your address.