Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church

We’re still need a coordinator for our CHURCH PICNIC, which is Sunday, June 3. Talk to Pastor Kev or Clerk of Session Lori Johnson, to say yes.

MAYFEST!! Fun! Food! Friends! Fellowship! TALENT! You’ll find ALL the above at our annual MAYFEST DINNER & entertainment-filled evening! It begins on Thursday, May 17, at 6:30 PM. (We’d love to have your help with set-up at 4:30 in Jack Reichert Hall.) There’s a fabulous meal (home-made meatloaf, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salad, bread & our ever-popular “build your own ice-cream sundae”), followed by the MOST STUPENDOUS, COLLOSAL, INCREDIBLE gathering of home-grown TALENT you can imagine! Terry Arenz is coordinator; she’s seeking LOTS of folks to perform. Do you have a special crocheting trick to share? Good at standing on your head? Want to display your kick-boxing technique? Sing? Play the kazoo? Tell Terry & she’ll sign you up to perform! Mark the date on your calendar RIGHT NOW! Tickets are available from Terry of course, you may purchase yours at the door, but it helps know how much food to make if you buy them in advance Adults $6.00; kids $3.00, & “family” $11.00 (parents & minor children living in the home ) See you there!

FLAG DISPOSAL If you have an American flag which is looking tattered, it

should be “Honorably Retired” as a gesture of respect to this symbol of our country. Our own Harry Koroghlanian, a member of Post 416 of the Greendale American Legion, has volunteered to see that these flags are destroyed properly. If you have a flag or flags which need to be honorably disposed of, please bring it [them] to the church for collection any Sunday in May. You may give your worn-out flags to Harry, or place them in the library on the countertop nearest the sink. Harry will bring them to be included in the flag-burning which Post 416 will conduct as Flag Day (June 14) approaches. It’s a valuable service. Thank you, Harry!

You know that, every summer, we try to do something special, something unique, something extraordinary. I have an idea for this year, & I want to introduce it in a little story.

Years ago my seminary pastor, Jim Chaffin, was walking through a mall in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He was just window shopping and people watching, minding his own business, when

Suddenly there was an open hand in his chest - stopping Jim in his tracks. Behind the hand was a very self-assured Evangelical person - who said in a boisterous voice:

What the invasive, though well-intentioned character didn’t realize was that he had just accosted the wrong person. Not only is Jim a well-respected Presbyterian minister, but was also a newly retired leader in military intelligence. He knows his stuff!

Legend has it that Jim lectured the hapless evangelical for nearly half an hour, not only on the finer points of salvation, but also the finer points of evangelical etiquette!

Here’s my question: Have you ever wished you possessed that kind of spiritual confidence?

Have you ever wished you could be ready for just about any religious discussion or debate, or have you wished you could be just a little more comfortable with your own “spiritual condition?”

How about a “Summer of Spiritual Confidence”? We can hone our spiritual skills - our Bible - our interpretation and application - we can focus on prayer and meditation - we can assess our “personal relationship with Jesus” and improve it -if we wish.

We can also focus on what spiritual skills can mean to mission -- helping make God’s world a better place.

Please let me know it there’s anything in particular you are curious about - ww’ll work on it. Please invite your friends, and don’t miss a thing. You never know who you might meet in the mall!

Hilda Czaplewski & family. Our beloved member Larry Czaplewski passed away on April 9 following a massive heart attack. Pastor Kevin led a celebration of Larry’s life on Thursday, April 12. Parish Nurse Lynn Heinrich presided at the graveside

Our church family’s friend Rev. Tom Dietrich, scheduled for hip replacement surgery on June 6.

For Emily Gall & Jarrod Drury, wed in Kissimmee, FL on April 14. Pastor Kevin officiated.

For Angela Peterson & Troy Nealey, who tied the knot here at GAPC on April 20.

THANK YOU

Hilda Czaplewski sends heartfelt thanks all the members of the congregation for the loving prayers, cards, calls, & other expressions of caring during the time of Larry’s illness & passing. The church family was so very supportive; it means so much to the Czaplewski family. Special thanks to Pastor Kevin & Sally, & to Pam Leintz, who provided music for the funeral worship.

Did you see the new location for the huge, rough-hewn cross (made by Chuck Pope) which USED to occupy a prominent spot in our sanctuary? It’s been MOVED, & is now located on the inside south wall of the building, just beside the front doors. It’s an ideal location for this splendid symbol of our faith.

Jenny Lefevre, who donated all proceeds ($130) from the March 24 Partylite Candle Party to the church.

Bud & Barb Brunett, & Kerstin Lefevre & Tina Schultheiss, who cleaned the library carpeting. Take time to check it out it looks great!

Judy Olson, whose Adult Class presentation on Identity Theft on April 22 was of such vital importance.

To our Chancel Choir, Bethlehem Stars, & “Ringers”, who did such a wonderful job on Palm Sunday & Easter. Also to Pam Leintz, Sheri Masiakowski, Nicole Martin & Phyllis Shudy, for their extra work this season.

To all who brought cookies & bars to the gathering in our library which followed the Maundy Thursday worship. Your response was generous, delicious, & greatly appreciated. Thanks, too, to Judy Dickson & Bobbie Griffith, who coordinated the event.

Nicole Martin, (flute) who, with Kristin Tan (violin) from Forest Park, provided such wonderful accompaniment to the Maundy Thursday anthem.

Nicole Martin, who continues to enhance our worship with flute accompaniment on so many occasions.

The combined choirs of GAPC, Forest Park, Faith & Heritage Presbyterian Churches, for their moving performance of an “extended anthem” on Maundy Thursday. Over 50 singers! It was so beautiful!

Kerstin Lefevre, who decorated the big, wooden cross by the entrance, for Easter.

Melissa Gall, who provided piano accompaniment for the Easter Sunrise worship.

Marlea Sechtig, (sister of Tom Dietrich), who donated a number of photos of GAPC events in past years to our Church History File.

Gail & Dick Kloes, hard-working office volunteers whose help is so valuable.

VERY SPECIAL THANKS To Heather & JR Saugstad, for their VERY generous donation of all the food & supplies for the Pancake Breakfast (as they did last year.) Some of the supplies left over were used for Easter Breakfast. We also thank LB Smith, who donated the food for Easter Breakfast. (Easter Breakfast profit supports the church Youth Group, two of whom are attending Triennium, at Purdue University, this summer.) Profits which went to the Youth Group were $420.00

May 13 - Special guest Rev. Bill Dummer talks with the class about or presbytery’s desire to set up a partnership with a presbytery in Ghana.

May 20 - Last class of the season. Pastor Kevin & Sally explain plans for The Center for Every Day Spirituality at Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church. You don’t want to miss this one! It’s filled with EXCITING possibilities for our congregation & the community!

This is a plea to every congregation member to voice their opinion on a matter that has the Transformation Committee confused.

There’s been discussion about converting the cloak room into a cry room. This would enable a parent to see & hear the service without being confined to the nursery & without the need of a nursery attendant. A sound-proof glass partition wall would replace the wall at the back of the sanctuary, much like the one at Wauwatosa Presbyterian. (Rest assured, the committee will find an appropriate place to keep the coats.)

Of course, it’s one more expense to add to a growing list, but it’s one we must consider before we complete the flooring.

Please give us your thoughts. Drop a note in the suggestion box, or speak to one of the committee members. Your input is very important to us.

The Transformation Committee is about to begin the next phase of our church transformation.

We’re looking at a bid for redesigning the sanctuary/narthex shared wall to give it a more “open” feel. (Everyone seemed to love it when we took the windows out on Easter Sunday!)

After that, we’ll look at removing the carpeting in the chancel area & replacing it with ???

We’ll also be getting new bids on chairs for the sanctuary so that we can get to our final project replacement of the floors & removal of the asbestos. We want our church to be a safe & welcoming environment!

All this will cost approximately $70,000 - $80,000. Our Capital Fund currently stands at $42,000, so we’ve got a great start. Please keep your pledge up to date, so we don’t fall behind. It’s making such a wonderful difference in the life of our church!

Sunday, June 24, from 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, & we’ll offer our usual DELICIOUS shortcakes, sundaes, soda, hot dogs, pizza LOTS of tempting items at our BAKE SALE if you haven’t already saved this date on your calendar, you’re encouraged to do so immediately! Thanks to the generosity of the Equitable Reserve Association, a fraternal organization in Neenah, WI, we’ll be holding another drawing for a FREE BIKE & helmet, valued at $225.00. Children must be under the age of 16 to be eligible to participate in the drawing. (Our own Tommy Martin was last year’s winner.)

There are MANY ways you can help sign-up sheets will be available by early June. It’s not too soon to start talking it up among your friends, relatives, business colleagues, & neighbors for word of mouth is still THE BEST means of advertising.

HOW ABOUT THOSE BREWERS??? Judy Dickson shared the following information with us in worship on April 22, on behalf of Pat Sczypiorski, who could not be present. You’re going to LOVE this!

“Last night was our first night of working at Miller Park’s Sportservice booths. There were over 40,000 fans in attendance, & I think they all stopped at our stand! We were busy -- there were 11 of us there. Pat was the group leader, & there were Mark Brodaczynski, Bobbie & Ed Griffith, Kirsten & Dan Lefevre, Julie Williams & her friend Cheryl, & Jim, Jeff & Judy Dickson.

The stand manager said we were the best group he had worked with in his 13 years of experience, (but they all say that, to keep us coming back ) But we WERE good! The money isn’t completely figured out yet, but the church is going to receive a check for over eleven hundred dollars, from our work last night!”

JR Saugstad noted that there are still training dates available if you’d like to help but haven’t yet received training we ESPECIALLY need help for our DAYTIME games: MONDAY, MAY 28, at 1:05 PM; WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, AT 12:05 PM; WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1:05 PM. Evening dates are Friday May 4, 7:05 PM; Sat. June 2, 6:05 PM; Fri. June 22, 7:05 PM; Mon., June 25, 7:05 PM; Fri., July 13, 7:05 PM; and Sat., July 14, 6:05 PM. We’re committed for a total of TEN games; if we’re able to work MORE, we can be assigned to games in August in September. It’s a GREAT way to raise much-needed money for our church! Talk to JR or Heather Saugstad, to volunteer!

Our member Judy Olson, security officer for Penny’s, Southridge, for more than 30 years, spoke to the Adult Discussion Group about Identity Theft on Sunday, April 22. For those unfamiliar with the term, “identity theft” is when a person obtains another person’s identification information to commit fraud. The imposters use the victim’s accounts & personal information for their own monetary gain.

Nearly 40 of our folks gathered to learn about prevention (it’s essential!) detection, & what to do if you DO become a victim of this crime, which is increasing by astronomical proportions.

Judy prepared a 17-page booklet which covered the subject very thoroughly, & was handed out to all in attendance.

Because the topic is so vitally important, Judy will bring additional copies of the handout, which will be available on the Youth Booth to those who were unable to be present on April 22. You are encouraged to take a copy home, read it, & keep it for reference.

The presentation was timely, absorbing, very well-prepared, & generated much discussion. Important questions were answered; the advice received was invaluable.

They don’t care if they’ve just committed a federal offense by interfering with the

Many, many thanks to Judy, & her niece, police officer Rebecca Schmeling, for sharing their knowledge with the class. Becky provided a portion of the printed material included in the handout, & added advice during the presentation.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, & we thought you might like to pass this along to some of the moms who occupy an important place in your hearts, & lives.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct somebody never took a 3-year-old shopping.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose.

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed & one hand tied behind her back somebody never organized 7 giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said being a mother is boring somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a learner’s permit.

Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you’ve had a baby somebody doesn’t know that once you’re a mother, normal is history.

You may make a gift of your home or farm and still retain the use of it during your life time. This allows you to claim a charitable deduction for the gift while retaining ownership. After your lifetime, the charity will have complete control of the property. A portion of the value of the property is deductible as a charitable donation in the year of the gift.

As always, consult an attorney, tax advisor and financial advisor. Happy Giving!

Securities and investment advisory service offered through Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc.

Pentecost is an amazing, life-giving day in the community of faith. At Pentecost, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to transform human life & all of creation. Pentecost is the BIRTHDAY of the Christian Church!

The Pentecost Offering, which we will accept on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, is one of the 4 special offerings of our denomination in which Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church participates. By taking part, we help to bring the transforming love of God to children at risk, youth, & young adults. The offering provides a way to directly meet the needs of each above named group.

What a precious gift young people are! Yet, in today’s world, many live without hope for the future or support to meet daily needs. What better place could there be to make spiritual & financial investments than in our children & youth? 40% of the funds raised by the offering are kept by congregations for use on behalf of children at risk. 35% supports the 2007 General Assembly Child Advocacy Ministries. 25% supports Young Adult Volunteer opportunities.

During the month of May, Sunday bulletin inserts will explain the ministries supported by this offering. Special pew envelopes are provided to receive your gift.

SYNOD SCHOOL - What a wealth of growth opportunities abound at the 2007 Synod School, July 22 - 27, at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa! There are classes to promote personal & congregational enrichment; daily worship; a spirituality center & labyrinth; a hymn sing; craft activities; it’s just filled to overflowing with great choices for Presbyterians (& others) of every age!

A course sampling: “God at the Box Office”, taught by the Rev. Bill Humphreys (chaplain at Carroll College, & a frequent “guest preacher” here, when Pastor Kevin’s away); “Your Church Family’s Emotional System: How to Play Well with Others”; “PowerPoint for Beginners”; “Overcoming Barriers to Grace”; “Spiritual Transformation 101: In the heart of God we really are”; “The Red Tent: Literature, History, & Movement”; “Stained Glass”, (an introduction to stained glass crafting using the copper foil technique;) “Obscure but Crucial Characters in the Bible”; “Living the Questions”, (which offers the opportunity to converse about evil, suffering, & a God of love, Social justice & Compassion: the heart of Jesus’ ministry.)

These are only a FEW of the 62 courses from which those who attend Synod School may choose.

The theme for 2007 is “Five Smooth Stones: Biblical Themes for Life & Ministry. “

“David faced Goliath with five smooth stones, a slingshot, & a lot of help from God. As Christians in today’s world, we also face challenges of gigantic proportions. We may wonder if we, -- & the world -- will survive them. Yet, God does not send us up against these challenges unprepared.” Daily convocation will address these topics.

Those who attend Synod School enjoy participation in a unique experience of Christian community as they worship, study, play & live together; grow in faith through action, relationships, & a centering of the spirit; continue education; & “take it all in, then return home to share & serve”.

YOU are cordially invited to ATTEND Synod School! There’s a copy of the event’s catalog on the bulletin board directly behind the Youth Booth, along with registration forms (which MUST be received by July 1). Feel free to remove the catalog & look it over carefully but PLEASE replace it, so that others can read all about it, as well.

Convocation speaker is Carol Bechtel, Professor of Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, who explains: “The Bible is more than just a collection of ancient stories about strange people in faraway lands. It is, in a very real sense, our story. Watching students come to that realization is one of the most exciting things about teaching the Bible.”

Norma Jean Larson (“N.J.”) asks that we call the congregation’s attention to a support group meeting at the West Allis Senior Center, on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM, in the lower level. It’s for anyone 55 or over who is troubled, fearful, anxious, or wondering if they might have alcohol or drug problems. It’s free, on a first-name basis, & “N.J.” says, “It’s just a good group.” The center is on 70^th & National.

The following letter was read to our congregation by Pastor Kevin at the 9:30 AM worship on Easter Sunday. It is reprinted here so that the entire congregation may be aware of Lynn’s message to us, (for some were traveling, or ill at home, and couldn’t be at the service.)

Almost 14 years ago I got the nudge and call to attend an informational meeting about something called “Parish Nursing”. What a great way to combine the two things that are the very heart and soul of who I am -- my love of nursing and my love of the Lord. Even better yet, Aurora was partnering with area churches to take this program into the community. It didn’t take me long before I registered for the “Parish Nurse” educational program at Marquette and applied for a position.

At the same time, Greenfield Avenue & Cleveland Avenue Presbyterian Chuches gathered information and notified Aurora that they would be interested in a “Parish Nurse”. I interviewed with a group of people and in November of 1993 a nice Lutheran girl joined a wonderful group of Christians known as “Presbyterians”. And what a blessing it has been!

But now, my dear friends, I am gently reminded by scripture that there is a time and purpose for everything under heaven. The time has come that I must move on. The reasons are multi-factorial balancing three different positions within Aurora to maintain the number of hours that I need to work in a week; graduate school; and a personal need for my own spiritual growth and development. Please know that you will always be a part of me and who I am. It has been my honor and privilege to serve you in whatever way I could. From the Children’s Messages to home visits, from sharing your joys and sharing your sorrows. I can’t even begin to tell you how much more you have given to me than I have given to you. Your example of a Christ-like faith is so apparent in the many things that you do.

With that, let me encourage you to continue to grow in your knowledge of Christ and to continue to serve him with the love and joy that is in your hearts!

My last “official” day will be April 19^th. Although I will no longer be your parish nurse, I am still your friend. If there is anything I can ever help you with, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

And finally, on this Easter Sunday, as we celebrate Christ’s victory over death, be joyful in hope. Our faith in Christ sets us free! Easter Blessings to each of you.

P.S. For all of you PACE fans, I will continue in that role (with some help from Judy Dickson) I wouldn’t want to let you get by with an excuse not to exercise, and Sally (my dog) needs a place to come & visit!”

will take place on Friday, July 20, at the St. John’s Military Academy Golf Course in Delafield. SAVE THAT DATE on your calendars, so you can participate! We’ll have ALL the additional details in your June Messenger; JR & Heather Saugstad are coordinating the event.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

For the month of MARCH

INCOME $ 9,465.69

EXPENSES $12,569.79

As of March 31, 2007

a LOSS of ( $3,104.10 )

** Deadline for the

June newsletter is

Thursday, May 17, at 9:00 AM !! **