| January 2012 |
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JANUARY, 2012 - MESSENGER GREENFIELD AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1455 S. 97th St., West Allis, WI 53214 Church Office (414) 453-3710 Pastor Kevin G. Tarvid Pastor’s Cell Phone for Emergencies (414) 588-0159 Sunday Morning Worship Sunday Church School 9:30 AM www.gapc-usa.com 10:45 AM “Friends Moving Forward, Focused on Faith”
Sunday Worship Schedule January 1 - January 29, 2012
Sun Jan 1 - 9:30 AM Communion Worship - Happy New Year! Rev. Wayne Peach is Guest Preacher today Sermon: “Haunting & Holy” Liturgist/Children’s Message: Judy Olson
Sun Jan 8 - 9:30 AM “Penny Sunday” First Reading: Genesis 1:1-5 Sermon: “Will the Holy Spirit Come Upon Us?” Liturgist/Children’s Message: Sue Pope
Sun Jan 15 - 9:30 AM First Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Sermon: “Come and See!” Liturgist/Children’s Message: Sue Smith
Sun Jan 22 - 9:30 AM “Penny Sunday” First Reading: Mark 1:14-20 Sermon: “First Time Ever! Maybe Only?” Liturgist/Children’s Message: Sandy Reichert
Sun Jan 29 - 9:30 AM First Reading: Psalm 111 Sermon: “Shut Up, Demons!?!” Liturgist/Children’s Message: Janice Pendergast
FROM OUR PASTOR : Happy New Year, Loved Ones! I’m thinking of a saying I first heard from those great philosophers, the Muppets! (It was Kermit The Frog, I think.) The saying goes like this: “If you see a fork in the road…. Take it!” It seems to me that the Church has reached a fork in the road. Not just our church - the church all over. All the data seems to indicate that, while folks are still quite fond of Jesus - most don’t think much of his church. Church involvement has hit all time lows… In my work with the greater church it seems to me that the prevailing attitude is that we should enjoy the boat as much as possible while it sinks! Maybe its because I’m such an optimist, or maybe because I just don’t feel like giving up. Probably, its because I just don’t want to see a world without a vibrant, vital, loving church. The world is already such a mess. So, I am convinced that God is calling us to change, a new reformation, as it were! Not only do we need to be even more active, effective and faithful, we need to be a beacon for a whole lot of other churches who have lost their way. I’m hoping you will join me in this New Years resolution. Let’s keep the very best of our tradition - but let’s also improve, increase, and grow just as much as possible. Let’s buck the trend. Let’s change the course, let’s right the ship. Let’s take the fork in the road. Think, pray about what that might look like. Talk to me, let’s conspire together! God loves you. Me too. - Pastor Kevin
ORDINATION/ INSTALLATION of new church officers will be held on Sun, Jan 15, during morning worship. We’ll take a few moments to thank our “outgoing” officers (some of whom are coming right back ON), & welcome the new. Make sure to be present to show your appreciation, for we couldn’t BE a church, without their hard work!
UN-DECK THE HALLS, DE-HANG THE GREENS - It’s time to remove the holiday decorations, as the church year moves on. Epiphany will be behind us (it takes place on Jan. 6), so on Sun. Jan 8, immediately following worship, DO pitch in to help as we take down & put away the Christmas trees, garlands, bows & ornaments. (We made a teensy ERROR in the December Messenger, & announced that the “De-Hanging” would take place on Sat. the 7th. OOOOOOPS. Correct date is Sun the 8th.)
THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, complete with delicious POT LUCK LUNCH, will take place on Sunday, January 22nd. The lunch will begin immediately after Sunday School, with the Annual Meeting following at about 12:30 PM. We’ll take a look back at 2011; vote on the Pastor’s Terms of Call; elect a member to the Audit Committee for a 2-year term; elect 4 individuals to the Nominating Committee for 2012; & review the budget. For the lunch, you’re asked to bring a salad, entrée, or dessert to pass, as well as your own tableware (for that saves us a LOT of clean-up time). As well as the important business we conduct at the meeting, it’s also a time of great fellowship, great food, & shared ideas.
A NOTE FROM THE PEACE & JUSTICE COMMITTEE The Peace & Justice Committee has come up with a new focus for 2012. Starting this month, we will focus on one item a month as a suggested item to donate to our missions the Guest House, & the Good Samaritan Outreach Center. There’s a list included with this newsletter that we’d like you to put on your refrigerator, or someplace in your kitchen where you can easily see it, when you make out your shopping list. The item will also be mentioned in each monthly newsletter, & on a flyer in the narthex. Each month there will be a different suggestion -- remember, that is what this list is -- a SUGGESTION. Please keep bringing any items you want to bring, as the needs of both of these organizations are great. The list is simply a reminder, & an effort to make it easier & more fun for everyone. The baskets where you can place your donations are in the narthex, close to the elevators. Thank you for doing a great job in the past, & continuing to do a great job in 2012. For January, our suggestions are: Good Samaritan The Guest House Soup Gloves & Mittens
Judy Dickson for P& J Committee
FOOD PANTRY GUEST HOUSE February Mac-n-Cheese Hand lotion
March Tuna/Canned Meats Toothbrush/Paste April Pasta/Sauce Body Wash
May Baby Food Deodorant June Canned Vegetables Shaving supplies
July Canned Fruit Nail Care August Juice/Beverages Body Wash
September Peanut Butter Toothbrush/Paste October Cereal Deodorant
November Beans/Rice Lip Care/Chap Stick December Holiday Foods Hats
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, TO: Tina Myers, who pitched in & taught the “Fit & Faithful” Exercise Class while Jeri was ailing. and ... Kathy Doty, for her beautiful vocal solo on Dec. 11. . and ... Sean Duffy, who played guitar & sang for us on Dec. 11. . and ... Diane Edward, Laurie Kadunc, Jill Lukas, & all of the church young people, for their delightful contributions of talent, energy & insight in the Christmas Program Dec. 18. and ... Choir Director Jill Lukas; Organist & Accompanist Janice Borkenhagen; the Chancel Choir; the Handbells; God’s Guild; Karin & Rachel Schmeling; Laurie Kadunc, Sally & Kristina Tarvid, for their splendid musical offerings on Christmas Eve. and ... Those who served as Readers on Christmas Eve. and ... Laurie Karrels, who donated the “flameless” candles for the sanctuary window alcoves, to use during the Advent/Christmas season. And to Lori Johnson, who donated the batteries. and ... Donna & Marv Saugstad, hosts extraordinaire of a Christmas Eve Open House. and ... Alan Arenz, who spent hours extending “wireless” throughout the entire church building! We’re internet accessible wherever we wish to be! and ... Everyone who brought gifts for the Christ Church Christmas Toy Store. and ... Those who bought ornaments for the “Habitat Tree”, (which provides funds for Habitat for Humanity”). and ... Church Office Volunteers Gail & Dick Kloes, always smiling & helpful. New Prayer Chain Options open to all members and friends of GAPC - As many of you know, the Deacons have overseen the Prayer Chain ministry of this church for many, many years. This is a group of people who are willing to pray when others have special needs and concerns. These requests for prayer are shared with the members of the prayer chain with the permission of the requesting party in order to protect confidentiality. The current program consists of about 30 households who respond when a request is made. The folks on the chain phone the next person on the list to pass the request along. Then they pray about the concern. This program will be continued as some folks do not have e-mail. In today’s busy world many people have found it difficult to keep the message going because they need to make calls (and leave messages with the answering machines of folks who are not home), until they reach someone who is home to continue the process. Therefore, it was suggested that perhaps we could supplement the current program with an e-mail prayer chain as well. In this manner, each participant would receive the prayer request by e-mail and pray at their convenience as well as not having to make any additional contacts. If you are interested in switching to the new e-mail program from the phone list, or if you have never participated and would like to belong to either group, please let me know. Come join us in this very worthwhile ministry. Thanks! - Sandy R. Kindemusik classes offered at Greenfield Ave. Presbyterian Kathy Doty, a music teacher with more than 15 years experience and Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church member is offering some great musical learning opportunities. Coming in February......Kindermusik! Think your child is too young to start a music class? Think again! Even babies and toddlers can benefit from music! Every child loves music and every child loves to move! Enjoy quality bonding time with your child while giving them the skills they need to develop in every way! Meet other families and children of a similar age! Kindermusik® classes are designed to develop and strengthen physical, social, emotional & cognitive development, all through MUSICAL FUN! In Kindermusik, parents/caregivers come to class with their children to sing, dance, laugh and play! And every class includes an At Home Kit with a CD of class songs, and a variety of age-appropriate literature, activities, and games—all tied to the class content. Whether it’s sharing a bedtime story from class, or singing together with your child—the At Home Kit brings all the benefits of class home each week! Classes will be taught by Kathy Doty and held at GAPC (1455 S 97th St. West Allis) on Thursday nights beginning February 2nd, 2012. Classes are 8 weeks long. Two classes will be offered – 5:15pm Kindermusik® Village - for families with children age 0-18 months * 6:15pm Kindermusik® ABC Music & Me- for families with children age 2-4 years * *All age ranges are approximate. Children are placed in the class that will most benefit them. Kathy is also opening a studio in her home to teach private lessons. Voice, clarinet, beginning guitar and beginning piano are all available. Call soon for special rates! For more information, or to sign up, please call Kathy. (Her number’s in the church directory.) HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE ADMIRALS HOCKEY outings on Jan.27 & Mar. 3 of 2012? There will be special concerts after each game! Country music favorite Dierks Bentley takes center stage after the Jan 27 date. Classic rock group “Styx” will perform following the March game. Ticket cost will be reasonable. Mark Brodaczynski has sign-up sheets. If you have questions, contact Mark. HEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL - During the Christmas program on Dec. 18, our young people announced the amount of money we’ve raised for HEIFER during 2011 -- it was $1,500.00! With that money (which you good folks in the congregation have provided during “Penny Sunday” twice a month, with an average of $40 - $50 per Sunday), we’ll be donating a “Joy to the World” basket to HEIFER Included in the basket are 2 sheep, 4 goats, 1 heifer & 2 llamas. Thank you for your enthusiastic support of this important cause. And thanks to our young people, who collect coins on “Penny Sunday”. We Love Our Custodial Volunteers ! For December, those dusting, vacuuming, mopping & cleaning were: Ed & Bobbie Griffith, Karin, Mike & Rachel Schmeling, Hugh Evans, Phyllis Shudy, & Peter Zoeller. These volunteers continue to be our “Custodial Angels”, for it’s a vitally important means of keeping our expenses here at the church down Television services for Saints, Sinners, & Shut-Ins from GAPC The goal of this project is to get the word out that we are welcoming new members, & that we’re a warm & welcoming church. If YOU have any ideas that may encourage viewers to visit us or have any suggestions for improving the show, utilize the Black Comment folder on the back table (you can make comments anonymously, if you wish ...) A reminder: our show can be viewed on Channel 96 if you have Time/Warner Cable (& live in the Milwaukee/Northshore area), or Channel 99 if you have AT&T as your cable provider (if you live in the Milwaukee/Northshore, or surrounding areas.) Last of all -- you’ve probably noticed Tom Tarnowski in the balcony, diligently filming the service each Sunday ... Don’t ignore the camera! Instead, WAVE at the camera, be FRIENDLY! Times for Sermon Title: “Take a Chance on Me” Sun, Jan 1, 2012 - 11:00 AM SOUPER BOWL of CARING - Sun., Feb. 5, is not only the “Super Bowl Sunday” eagerly anticipated by football fans, it’s “Souper Bowl Sunday”. It’s an effort by youth across the nation, working to fight hunger & poverty in their own communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game; an attempt to help those “who are without so much as a bowl of soup to eat”. We’re thrilled to have taken part in “Souper Bowl” for many years, & are happy to continue the effort! In case you’re wondering, for the 2011 “Souper Bowl”, 15,238 groups across the U.S. generated $9,583,338 in cash & food items for local charities which work to end hunger. Considering the state of our economy, it comes as no surprise that the number of Americans living in poverty in 2011 is the highest it has been in 52 years; one in seven households in our nation are food insecure, which affects more than 16 million children! (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture). The youth who participate donate 100% of the money they collect each year through the Souper Bowl of Caring directly to the local charity of their choice. Our young folks will stand at the rear of the sanctuary holding food pots, in which we hope you’ll place at least one dollar, following worship that morning. WEST CENTRAL INTERFAITH is gearing up for its Jan. 28 Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. It’s at St. Matthais ,9306 W. Beloit Rd., from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. There’s a flyer on the Peace & Justice bulletin board in the narthex with full details. DISCOVERY DAY - Feb 25, 2012 - The Presbytery of Milwaukee’s conference this year has chosen “Stirring the Waters” as its theme. When waters are stirred, the natural flow becomes imbalanced. It is at this precise time, in the face of stirred water, that we might be most ready to seek a new path together, to try new things, to learn and listen, to grow and change by the spirit. Workshops in this year’s conference will focus on how congregations can manage change, as well as explore new directions to live out the plan that God has for us. Keynoter will be Teaching Elder Landon Whitsitt, author or “Open Source Church - Making Room for the Wisdom of All”. And, we’ve invited Winnebago Presbytery (to our north) to join us in this year’s events. There’s time for learning, fun activities, games, crafts, & the $10 cost includes lunch & a T-shirt!
JANUARY, 2012 CALENDAR REGULAR EVENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
SUNDAY 9:30 AM - WORSHIP
MONDAYS - 6:00 PM - “Fit & Faithful Exercise”
TUESDAYS 5:00 - 6:00 PM - TOPS in library
WEDNESDAYS 6:30 PM - Handbells 7:30 PM - Chancel Choir
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
NOTE: Regular calendar events listed in the box above are NOT included in the information below -- unless an event is CANCELLED on a particular date. Sun Jan 1 9:30 AM - Communion Worship led by the Rev. Dr. Wayne Peach Mon Jan 2 Our church offices are CLOSED in celebration of New Year’s Day ** Note that there will be NO “Fit & Faithful” Exercise class on Jan. 2 ** Sun Jan 8 10:40 AM - We’ll “Un-Deck the Halls & “De-Hang the Greens” -- EVERYONE can help! 2:00 - 5:00 PM - Holiday OPEN HOUSE at the Tarvid’s home * Tues Jan 10 6:30 PM - Peace & Justice Committee Thur Jan 12 7:00 PM - Friends of MS Sun Jan 15 9:30 AM - Ordination/Installation of New Church Officers * Mon Jan 16 9:00 AM - Deadline for Annual Reports to be turned in to the church office. One was already turned in. Can YOU be second? 7:15 PM - Resources Committee Tues Jan 17 6:30 PM - Session meets Sun Jan 22 11:30 AM - POT LUCK LUNCH & 12:30 PM - ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING * A REMINDER: In case of REALLY BAD WEATHER on a Sunday morning during January, February & March (it wouldn’t DARE snow or sleet in April ... would it???) ... please check WISN TV 12, to find out if church services happen to be canceled. We’ve only canceled ONCE in 29 years, as far as your editor can remember .. but when Old Man Winter gets cranky, you never can tell. (Folks with computers can check WISN.com). If you don’t see a “closing” notice, but are still concerned, don’t take any chances. Stay home. We want all our folks to stay SAFE.
** FEBRUARY/MARCH NEWSLETTER DEADLINE is WED, Jan 18, at 9:00 AM !! **
* Article about event appears in newsletter
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