PASTOR KEVIN will be on vacation from May 26 through June 2.  As always, while he is away, in an emergency, contact Sue Smith at the church office (414-453-3710); or Deacon Member Care Coordinator Sandy Reichert.  Their phone numbers are in your church directory, & they’ll be glad to contact one of the clergypersons who “cover for” Pastor Kevin when he’s away, to see that your need is given proper attention.

          There’s an old, old hymn in our book: “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place…”  Well, there is.

MAYFEST  SPAGHETTI  DINNER - Mayfest is back!  We’re having a Spaghetti Dinner & “Family Talent Show” on Friday, May 21, beginning at 6:30 PM in Jack Reichert Hall.  “Chef Jill” Lukas will be providing home made spaghetti & meatballs, salad, bread ... it’s sure to be DELICIOUS!  If you’d like to sing a song, play an instrument, display your dance technique, juggle, show off your acrobatic skills, form a kazoo band for the occasion, recite a poem,  you name it ... there’s a sign-up sheet at the rear of the sanctuary, so you can let Jill know what talent you’ll showcase.  And, of course, if you’re willing to help with set-up, clean up, serving, etc., there’ll be a sign-up sheet for that, as well. Invite your friends to come, also, for it’s always GREAT FUN.  Tickets are just  $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for kids under age 12.  (We’re inviting folks from the other “Fab 4” churches to be with us on this occasion.)

PENTECOST is coming up on Sun., May 23, & we encourage you to WEAR RED ON PENTECOST!  It’s the “birthday of the church”, when the Holy Spirit was given on the apostles.  Acts 2:3-4a tells us:  “Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...” And there’s MORE!  It’s also TEACHER RECOGNITION SUNDAY, when we show our appreciation to all the dedicated folks who’ve helped in any way with our Sunday School program throughout the year.  Be here to say “Thanks!”

STRAWBERRY FEST is scheduled for Sunday, June 27, & we’ll be giving away a bicycle & helmet once again this year, courtesy of the Equitable Reserve Association of Neenah, WI.  Once again, the Schmeling family is coordinating the event, & they’ll need many, many willing workers as we stage this extraordinary community outreach & fund-raising event.  We need folk to sell tickets; run games for the children; bake tempting treats for the bake sale, clean berries the morning before the fest; scoop berries, ice cream & shortcake; help in the kitchen; work in the “serving” area & more.  We’ll also need people willing to deliver FLYERS in the neighborhood surrounding the church, for there are many, many people who look forward to the event who depend on our flyers to let them know when it’s scheduled.  What can YOU do to help out?  There will be sign-up sheets in the rear of the sanctuary before long.

SPRING GRADUATES - Melissa Gall will graduate from Nathan Hale High School on June 12.  Melissa will attend Carroll University in Waukesha in the fall, with a planned major in biology. CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA, & best wishes at Carroll.

Stephanie Palmer graduates from Nathan Hale on June 12.  Future plans include college, but we’re told that as of this writing, there are two schools “in the running”.

Are there other grads whom we should acknowledge?  Please let us know, for we don’t want to forget anyone!

The 21^st ANNUAL GREAT PANCAKE BREAKFAST raised $575.00 to benefit the church! Many, many thanks to JT Gall, who coordinates the event; all his helpers; those who came to enjoy pancakes & fellowship; & the two generous benefactors who DONATED all the food for the event!  

AN  EVANGELISM/GROWTH GROUP will meet at the church on Thursdays at 9:00 AM, beginning on June 10.  If you’re interested in taking part, please tell Pastor Kevin or Evangelism Chairperson Eric Arenz.

ORGAN  CONCERT  -  Our beloved Sheri Masiakowski will present a “lunchtime” organ concert at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 831 N. Van Buren St. in Milwaukee, at 12:15 PM on Wed., May 26.  The half-hour concert will feature a double organ concerto, (that’s with TWO organs), & it’s sure to be magnificent!  Put a note on your calendars, now, so you don’t miss this exceptional event. (Wouldn’t it be great if we could surprise Sheri with a big group of her GAPC friends in attendance?)                      

NEW  CHURCH  DIRECTORY -  We’re in the process of preparing a MUCH-NEEDED new church directory, in which we’ll be including any email addresses that we have for our folks.  IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS PUBLISHED, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN REMOVE IT.  If we don’t hear from you, we’ll presume that it’s okay to publish.  AND ... if you would like to ADD your email address to the directory, (& you know we don’t already have it ...) please tell Sue Smith, so it can be included.

SUMMER  CAMP  time is just around the corner, & Stronghold, (near Oregon, IL, in Blackhawk Presbytery) offers wonderful opportunities for campers of ALL ages!  There’s “GrandCamp”, for grand-parents & children ages 5 -12; “First Timers” for children who have completed grades 2 - 4; “Junior Adventure Camps” for those who have completed grades 3 - 5, camps for junior high-er’s, sr. highs, Special Interest camps, & MORE. There are brochures & registration forms available on the table in the narthex.  Melissa Gall has attended the camps for many summers; she’ll be glad to tell you about here experiences there.

HAVE  YOU SEEN the final, completed photo album that Jenny Lefevre compiled, detailing church history?  It’s on display in the narthex, & like all the others she’s done, it’s a real masterpiece.  DO be sure to check it out, for you’ll enjoy it!  Thanks, Jenny, it was hard work; identifying people & approximate dates was a tjme-consuming & sometimes mystifying task!  You did a SUPER job!

We Love Our Custodial Volunteers !  For April, those dusting, vacuuming, mopping & cleaning were Ed & Bobbie Griffith; Alan, Terry, Eric & Matt Arenz; Phyllis Shudy; Steve & Joann Jakubowski; & the Dicksons.  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!

Lori Johnson, Clerk of Session

We received a letter from Good Samaritan Outreach Center for our church youth, thanking them for the donation the youth made from the Souper Bowl Sunday Special Offering.  In part, the letter says: “It is your good will that is allowing us to continue in our mission to help those less fortunate than ourselves to receive the basics, like food, clothing, a bar of soap or a toothbrush along with many other things they might need and wouldn’t be able to get without your help... Your hard work & generosity is appreciated & the Souper Bowl donation will be put to good use!    Sincerely, Good Samaritan”    The letter itself is posted on the narthex bulletin board. 

Just a gentle reminder that our church nursery is intended for children age 3 & under.  While we realize that there can be always exceptions, we do hope youngsters ages 4 & up can be in worship with their parents (or with a “volunteer shepherd”), for our worship service is for EVERYONE, not just “grown-ups”.  

ARE YOU 60 YEARS OLD OR MORE?  NO LONGER ABLE TO DO YOUR OWN YARD CLEAN-UP?  Two church groups in our neighborhood volunteered to do spring yard clean-up.  Would you like some help washing windows outside, raking leaves, trimming bushes, installing a window air conditioner, taking off your storm windows or some other outside chore?  If you do, please call Interfaith West Central at 771-1747 to sign up for our Spring Yard Clean-Up project.  We have openings on Saturday, April 24, 2010, or Saturday, May 15, 2010.

SPECIAL  MUSIC  FOR  SUMMER ...  It’s a tradition here at GAPC to provide “Special Music” each Sunday during summer, while the Chancel Choir & Handbells are “on hiatus”.  There’s a sign-up sheet at the rear of the sanctuary; we’re looking for folks willing to do solos, sing duets or form other small groups, play instruments ... all to show God our joy in being part of Christ’s Church!  Sign up to “Sing (or play) a new song to the Lord”!

ABOUT   VBS  (Vacation Bible School) - Looking for willing Astronauts to Blast off with us for VBS.  VBS will be Aug. 16-20 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.  We are looking for command personnel to plan the launch, and ground control personnel to handle the new astronaut Cadets. This is a very important community event for us and we want it to be a huge success.  The theme this year (if you haven’t guessed) is Galactic Blast.  Many things need to be done, created and planned.  We are hoping for a Stellar turn out!!! Please let Terry Arenz  know that (not if) you are willing to help.   We promise you an amazing spirit-filled time of learning and teaching kids about God.  The immediate need is for Command Personnel.  There I will be more to come about teaching and Senior Cadet Leaders.  We have finally stepped out on our own with VBS, so let’s show the community who we are and what we are all about!! Thanks from your Galactic Blast Director.     -  Terry