Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS GAME - A great group of our folks are going to the Milwaukee Admirals Hockey Game on Feb. 8! We’re excited, because the Admirals provide some of the “hottest” action on ice! (It’s a treat to see ice somewhere other than your driveway or sidewalk!) The Peoria Rivermen are the “home team’s” opponent. If you didn’t order a ticket, it’s likely that you can purchase tickets at the door. Mark Brodaczynski can provide additional details. Game time is 4:00 PM at the Bradley Center. We’ll meet at church at 2:30 PM to car pool. See you there!

AFTER CHURCH CAFÉ, to benefit the Peace & Justice Committee’s many worthy causes, will be held on Sun. Feb. 22! It’s in Jack Reichert Hall, & begins immediately after worship, running until 1:00 PM. There’ll be chicken soup, a vegetable soup, & a “surprise” soup. Ticket prices $5.00 for adults; $2.50 for kids under age 12. See Barb Brunett, for tickets. Our commitments in the community are SO important; your support is greatly appreciated!

I’m about to tell you one of those bad news, good news stories. When I wrote last month, I was talking about the possibility of us becoming a (slightly) larger than average Presbyterian Church.

At the time I didn’t know that our membership wasn’t quite as large as I had hoped. So, the bad news is, we will need more than 30 new members to reach that magic 205 number -- more like 45.

The good news is this -- at the time, I knew that a number of wonderful people had indicated that they were ready to join us. What I didn’t realize was that it would be 10! What a great celebration on the eve of Ground Hog’s Day! Spring is on its way!!!

This might raise the question -- Why do we play the numbers game? Are numbers really important? Well …

It’s not the numbers -- it’s the people they represent. We need the spiritual strength, the faithful caring, & positive energy of as many people as possible.

Churches continue to die all around us. At the same time, the gospel message is more important for the world than ever. If we were to fall, who would carry the message for us? We need to be strong!

As I mentioned last Sunday, the sad truth is that we compete with other churches -- and with no church at all.

We cannot settle for survival -- & certainly not mediocrity! We have the ability to make a big difference in our neighborhood -- & beyond.

God calls us to be and do everything we can. No looking back. What can you do to help? God loves you. Me too! - Pastor Kev

Jean Kern, a treasured member of our congregation since 1965, passed away in her sleep on Jan. 2, following a period of declining health. Pastor Kevin led a service of thanksgiving for Jean’s life at the church on Jan. 5. Deepest sympathy is extended to all in Jean’s family.

Kerstin, Dan, Jenny & Josh Lefevre, & Tina Schultheiss & Spencer Myers. Kerstin & Tina’s father, Fred Schultheiss, passed away on December 30. Sincere condolences to all in the family.

Former church members Stan & Rose Telander & family. Their daughter, Karen Muskavitch, who grew up at Greenfield Avenue Church, passed away on Jan. 12, following a courageous 3-year battle against brain cancer.

Vince Berte, hospitalized for a second time with complications from pneumonia. He’s now recovering at Hales Corners Health Care Center.

Hilda Holle, who was hospitalized in December, and again in January. She’s now back at home.

For Becky Schmeling & Jeremy Huck, who became engaged on Dec. 21. They’re thinking of a date in 2010.

That Pam & Ed Leintz sent New Year’s greetings from Georgia, as did Greg & Cindy Brodaczynski, from Arizona.

On Sun., Feb. 1, we received 10 wonderful folks into membership at GAPC! They are: Steve, Sandy, John & Jacob Brick; John & Kathy Doty; Steve & Megan Ewart; Kayla Jervis; & Kathie Kubik. We’re SOOOO glad you’ve made it “official”!

KATHY DOTY writes:

”As many of you know, I have made the decision to step down as music director of GAPC. While it is with a heavy heart that I step back, John & I are happy to let you know that even though I cannot continue as a staff member, we will be happily becoming members of GAPC! I would like this opportunity to thank Pastor Kevin, Sue Smith, Phyllis Shudy, Loretta Nalencz, &all other staff members for their support. You have all been wonderful!

I would also like to thank all the musicians at GAPC. When asked, you have come to sing, ring, or play, & have done it with gusto! Your wonderful dedication to the music at our church has been heaven-sent!

A big thank you to all who contributed to the wonderful gifts given to me at the Music Department Christmas Party. I will cherish them always! It was a wonderful time of fellowship for all! A special thanks to the Tarvids, for hosting! God bless.”

… and

from Phyllis Shudy:

“Dear GAPC Choir & Bell Choir, Thank you for the beautiful watch that you gave me for Christmas. I love the crosses & hearts on the band. I’ll enjoy wearing it. Thank you, too, for the gift to Habitat. That is one of my favorite missions. Happy New Year to all of you.”

… … and

Loretta Nalencz adds:

“Thank you to all choir & bell choir members for your remembrance at Christmas! Your generous gift to Habitat is the best!”

As we search for a choir director, we’re recruiting folks who’d like to provide “special music” during worship in coming weeks. There’s a BRIGHT PINK sign-up sheet on the table at the rear of the sanctuary, with dates for the next several months. Sing a solo, play an instrument, form a small vocal group -- it’s your choice! We hope you’ll want to volunteer.

NAMETAG ALERT With so many wonderful new folks joining &/or visiting us here at GAPC, we’d like to remind the folks in the congregation to WEAR YOUR NAMETAGS each Sunday. It’s a great help to our new people as they get acquainted!

PITCH DAY on Jan. 10 was INCREDIBLY successful! A hard-working crew of folks dug through nooks & crannies, and rid our storage-space- scarce building of an accumulation of STUFF that had piled up since who-knows-when! THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this effort!

MANY, MANY THANKS TO: Bobbie Griffith & Judy Dickson, who coordinated the coffee fellowship following the Jan. 5 funeral service for Jean Kern. Thanks, also, to all who brought cookies & bars, & helped serve.

Everyone who helped “De-Hang the Greens” on Jan. 11. Since the service for Jean Kern took place in the sanctuary on Jan. 5, & Jean had played such a pivotal role in the creation of the Christmons which decorate the tree, it was decided to leave the decorations in place for one more week. Jean’s daughter Kathy shared memories of sitting at the kitchen table assembling the Christmons when she & twin brother Kelly were teenagers.

Kathy Doty, for her Special Music on Dec. 28, & John Doty, who provided Special Music for us on Jan. 11.

Peter Jansen, & the Youth Group, who sang “Awesome God” as our offertory Jan. 11.

Loretta Nalencz, who provided Special Music on Jan. 18, & Larry Jansen & Sue Smith, who provided Special Music on Jan. 25.

The Tarvids, who hosted the wonderful Music Department Holiday Party in their home Jan. 2.

Office volunteers Gail & Dick Kloes, “back on the job” to assemble this newsletter.

Funeral Helpers Needed - The Deacons are hoping to create a list of folks who would be willing to help in several ways when we are asked to serve food and beverages in connection with a funeral at the church. These events vary as to whether we need help during the day or evening so we need a ready list of folks to contact. We need folks who can come up to church briefly to set up tables and chairs in the library before a funeral. We also need folks who can help to make coffee and to serve the food whether it is just bars and cookies or a light lunch. We are always pleased at the number of folks willing to bake, and thank those folks for their generosity. However the setup, clean-up and serving often falls to just a few folks. If you would be willing to be called for such help, please call Bobbie Griffith or Sandy Reichert and feel free to leave a message with your name and what time of day you would be available so we can call you if the need arises. Thank you so much. There are supplies and guidelines available for these occasions.

We Love Our Custodial Volunteers ! For January, those dusting, vacuuming, mopping & cleaning were: Barb & Bud Brunett, Judy, Jim & Jeff Dickson; Ed & Bobbie Griffith; Dan & Kerstin Lefevre; and Alan, Terry, Eric & Matt Arenz. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! These volunteers continue to be our “Custodial Angels”, for it’s a vitally important means of keeping our expenses here at the church down! DO, PLEASE, consider helping the church in this way!

Elder Laurie Kadunc, chairperson; Elders Diane Edward, Lori Johnson, & Sally Tarvid. Church Members Terry Arenz, Sue Smith & Gail Kloes

Elder Barbara Brunett, chair-person; Elders Ed Griffith & Eric Arenz, & Church member Judy Dickson

Resources Committee - Elder Ed Griffith, chairperson & President of the Corporation; Elder Larry Smith, Vice President of the Corporation; & Church member Kerstin Lefevre

Elder Phyllis Anderson, chair-person; Elders Eric Arenz & Judy Olson; & Church Member Kerstin Lefevre

Elder Lori Johnson, Chair-person; Elder Kay Ulma; & from the congregation, Marie Hagen, Dan Lefevre, Sandy Reichert, & Karin Schmeling

We’re always in need of additional help on our committees, & YOU are invited & encouraged to participate on one, or more! Simply attend a meeting of the committee you’re most curious about, (all dates publicized in advance in our bulletin announcement pages & in monthly newsletters), or tell the chairperson of the committee that you’re interested! You’ll make their day!

SHERI MASIAKOWSKI, our former church organist, invites us to attend the dedication concert for the new organ at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1:30 PM. It’s a lovely instrument, similar to our new one, & Sheri will “put it through its paces” as she shows her listeners exactly what it can do. “I’m planning to play my socks off,” she emails. It’s an opportunity not to be missed, & we know some of our folks are planning to go … how about you?

You may have noticed that there are a number of places in our newsletters which say, “call this person, or that person”, for additional details, or to volunteer for this or that -- but no phone number appears. There’s actually a good & valid reason why it doesn’t. Since this newsletter appears on our internet web page, we deliberately omit the phone numbers or addresses of ANY of our church family members from the one which is sent to the web page. In this way, we hope to ensure that no crank or unwelcome phone calls from are received by our committee folks, from individuals who may be “surfing”, & up to mischief. Because your safety & privacy are important to us, we’ve chosen to take this particular step.

SOUTHMINSTER YOUTH MUSIC MINISTRY to visit GAPC on Sun. Mar. 8! It’s that time of year again, as the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Waukesha prepares it’s annual musical to raise funds for the group’s 2009 mission trip! They’ll present “Jonah in the Belly of the Whale”, a light-hearted look at Jonah, as he interacts with different Old Testament characters, in an effort to understand how & why he’s ended up inside a WHALE. The singing is always a delight, & the youngsters are so enthusiastic! The group will make a 10-day mission trip to Guatemala in June. Director is Kevin Koehne; Music Director is Paula Tillen; chairman of the music ministry team is Jay Crouse. Invite your friends to be with us, to enjoy the whimsy & song! A free-will offering to support the mission project will be accepted.

ABOUT OUR NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE - For newcomers who may not be aware of our “ins & outs”: our monthly newsletter, “The Messenger”, is written & published so that it will be available when you arrive for worship on the FIRST SUNDAY of each month. Since it’s our “regular” communion Sunday, more folks may be present in worship, (& can pick up their copy from the box in the narthex, which saves postage money, & THAT’S good stewardship!) If something REALLY IMPORTANT, (like a festival, etc.) is going on that month, we mail the newsletter out during the week following the first Sunday. Otherwise, we allow it to languish in the narthex, & hope that it will be picked up in worship on the 2nd Sunday. We mail those that remain, during that week. We hope you’ll want to read the newsletter (as well as the bulletin announcements) because it not only tells you “what’s happening” in the congregation, but also gives you a good “feel” for the kind of things our church family does. We try to include “regular visitors” on our mailing list. If you’re in that category, please look for your copy of the newsletter in the narthex box, also. Please take yours, each 1st (or even 2nd) Sunday.

There is an EXCEPTION to the “First Sunday” rule. If the LAST Sunday (most likely a 5th Sunday) of a given month is within a day or two of the final day of the month, we have the newsletter ready to distribute at the END of the month.

Clear as mud? We hope it’s not that complicated, but if you have questions, please check with Sue Smith in the church office. Extra copies of the newsletter can be found beside the box in the narthex, for new visitors or those who may have lost their copy.

SYNOD SCHOOL It’s not too early begin making your plans to attend Synod School in 2009. It will be held the week of July 26 - 31, at Buena Vista University, in Storm Lake, IA. It’s an annual midsummer ministry of the Synod of Lakes & Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), & includes:

The teachers, staff & leaders are wonderful, thoughtful, energetic, & fun-loving. And of course, there’s LOTS of opportunity for spiritual growth, & fellowship, & relaxation, & FUN … it’s even affordable!

The catalog & registration materials will be available in the narthex, in early March. Phyllis Shudy & Bobbie Griffith will be glad to share some of their personal experiences at Synod School with you … we hope you’ll consider attending! (Scholarships are available.)

REGULAR EVENTS

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

SUNDAY 9:30 AM - WORSHIP

10:45 AM - Church School for all ages

Communion 1st Sunday of each month

2nd & 4th SUNDAYS - “Penny Sunday”

MONDAYS - 6:00 PM - “Fit & Faithful Exercise”

TUESDAYS - 5:00 - 6:00 PM - TOPS in library

WEDNESDAYS 6:30 - 7:30 PM - Mid-Week Worship

THURSDAYS - 1:30 PM -People w/Arthritis Can Exercise

2nd THURSDAY of each month from 7:00 - 9:00 PM,

“Friends of Multiple Sclerosis” meet

Pastor Kevin’s USUAL “Day Off” is Friday

this winter, (which for all intents & purposes began with a BIG snow on December 1), has been doing a real number on the Milwaukee area. If you suspect that a worship service or other scheduled event at GAPC might be cancelled, do one of the following:

So … let common sense prevail. If you think it’s too cold, or icy, or slippery … it probably is. God wants you to take care of yourself, & be SAFE.

DID YOU KNOW??? It’s part of our job as a caring community, to provide our congregation with information that is helpful or necessary … DO take a moment to check out the bulletin boards; what you find there may be just what you’ve been looking for!